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Virginia cutout havens still remaining?

Started by hbelkins, February 18, 2020, 02:17:29 PM

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hbelkins

A comment by CPZ on another thread, about never having been to Bluefield, and my reply that the quirky signage is worthy of the trip, made me wonder where the largest remaining treasure troves of cutouts are.

There were still a sizeable number left in Tazewell and Norton the last time I was in those places. It's been several years, but Covington and Clifton Forge both had quite a collection when I was last there.

Bristol, Abingdon, Harrisonburg, and Winchester have seen their numbers eliminated or drastically reduced to nearly nothing. Bluefield was once home to dozens, as well, but there was only one set of US 19/US 460 cutouts, and only one traditional VA 102 cutout that I remembered seeing, when I was there about four years ago.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.


1995hoo

As of last June, there were still some (I emphasize "some") in Falls Church at the intersection of US-29 and VA-7. I'm not sure I've been through there since to say whether they're still there. As of earlier this winter, the two US-1 cutouts in Old Town Alexandria were still there as well. Neither is what I would consider a "large" set except in comparison to surrounding jurisdictions where there aren't any. The VA-338 cutout in Falls Church disappeared a few years ago.

(In a similar vein, the nice older-style I-95 shield seen in this Street View image was just replaced within the last week or two with something hideous with a weird-looking "9." I'll try to get a picture the next time I pass it, maybe this coming weekend.)
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

Mapmikey

Christiansburg is down to just 1 cutout (Dec 2019)
Gordonsville still has 1 set (Dec 2019)
VA 251 cutout at US 11 still there (Dec 2019)

Culpeper no longer has any

There is still one on US 33 btw Harrisonburg and Elkton
Richmond only has a couple left

Galax might still have a handful
Hillsville did last time I was there a couple years ago

Winchester only has a couple at most.

Haven't been to downtown Staunton lately but I know they were starting to replace theirs.

froggie

There used to be two on northbound Patrick St (US 1) in Old Town Alexandria.  Are they still there?

1995hoo

Quote from: froggie on February 18, 2020, 04:34:02 PM
There used to be two on northbound Patrick St (US 1) in Old Town Alexandria.  Are they still there?


They were as of earlier this winter. I haven't been through there in a few weeks to confirm they're still there today.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

cpzilliacus

#5
A few years ago I drove through Covington (following the path of U.S. 220) and saw some vintage signs there.  Not sure if they remain or not.

Here's an example - not cutouts, but they are old-school VDOT or maybe VDH designs: U.S. 60 E U.S. 220 S.

Here's a surviving cutout, at the western city limits as U.S. 60 leaves Covington: U.S. 60 W.
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

csw

#6
Since I moved to Virginia in August, I have cutouts in these locations:

Falls Church - US 29/VA 7 intersection
Christiansburg - US 460 Business (Franklin St.) northbound. There is also an assembly with newer, ugly US 11/Us 460 shields on Roanoke St.
Norton - US 23/US 58/VA 74 shields all over the main street
Clifton Forge - US 60/US 220 shields all over the main street, along with at least 2 state name I-64 shields
Covington - US 60 and US 220 shields all over their respective streets
Galax - a singular VA 89 shield heading west on US 58/US 221
Hillsville - several newer cutouts at the US 52/US 58 intersection
Bluefield - a singular US 19/US 460 assembly on the main street (US 460 Business). There are also some very ugly VA 102 cutouts.
Tazewell - tons of US 19/US 460/VA 16 shields all over the place.
Marion - US 11/VA 16 shields, at least three of them.
Pearisburg - newer cutouts for US 460 and VA 100 in two directions at the intersection of Main and Wenonah.

That's all I've found - mainly from seeing other people's photos and scouting them out myself. I don't think they're going anywhere in places like Norton, Tazewell, or Clifton Forge.

I don't remember seeing any in Winchester, Staunton, or Gordonsville when I went through them last summer. I probably just missed the one in Gordonsville but I'm pretty sure the ones in Staunton got replaced by unisigns.

Mapmikey

Quote from: cpzilliacus on February 18, 2020, 07:35:04 PM

Here's an example - not cutouts, but they are old-school VDOT or maybe VDH designs: U.S. 60 E U.S. 220 S.


VDOT still used this style on new installs into the 2010s...

This cutout below was replaced by this style of sign between 2008-10:





I hope the ones at VA 89-97 are still there (May 2018 GMSV has them).

The Gordonsville set is located here - https://goo.gl/maps/jU1Exfux2xHA9jdM6

Winchester still had this set in 2018 - https://goo.gl/maps/k2KbcPBEEGYFUV2s8

The last Roanoke cutout was still around in June 2019 - https://goo.gl/maps/EQfgyXWDocV26Yen9

Alps

I'm okay with the proliferation of US highways

VTGoose

Quote from: cpzilliacus on February 18, 2020, 07:35:04 PM
A few years ago I drove through Covington (following the path of U.S. 220) and saw some vintage signs there.  Not sure if they remain or not.

Here's an example - not cutouts, but they are old-school VDOT or maybe VDH designs: U.S. 60 E U.S. 220 S.


Was through Covington last month and the "U.S. 18" sign error is still there: https://goo.gl/maps/pbKC1duxp3xQE9hG9

"Get in the fast lane, grandma!  The bingo game is ready to roll!"

1995hoo

Quote from: Mapmikey on February 18, 2020, 08:38:46 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on February 18, 2020, 07:35:04 PM

Here's an example - not cutouts, but they are old-school VDOT or maybe VDH designs: U.S. 60 E U.S. 220 S.


VDOT still used this style on new installs into the 2010s...

This cutout below was replaced by this style of sign between 2008-10:

....

I pass this VA-236 sign all the time because my parents' house is a short distance west of there. It's obviously not a cutout, but it definitely seems to my eyes to have an old-school look to it; the "6," in particular, seems to be of a somewhat different style than we see on current VDOT signs (the "6" here feels almost like it's "tilted" slightly to the right relative to the other numbers, but that could just be a function of the top of the numeral being on more of a diagonal compared to, say, the "6" you see on speed limit signs).
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

WillWeaverRVA

Quote from: Mapmikey on February 18, 2020, 03:55:00 PM
Richmond only has a couple left

I think the ones on westbound VA 147 at VA 161 are the only ones left. The VA 147 shield fell off and disappeared a long time ago.
Will Weaver
WillWeaverRVA Photography | Twitter

"But how will the oxen know where to drown if we renumber the Oregon Trail?" - NE2

hbelkins

Galax -- still cutouts at VA 89 and VA 97 the last time I was there.

Hillsville -- plenty of those borderless cutouts at the main intersection in town the last time I was there. Same for Pearisburg for VA 100 and US 460.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

formulanone

Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on February 19, 2020, 01:42:52 PM
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 18, 2020, 03:55:00 PM
Richmond only has a couple left

I think the ones on westbound VA 147 at VA 161 are the only ones left. The VA 147 shield fell off and disappeared a long time ago.

I saw one on VA 147 last May; it's mounted higher on a lamppost.

Quote from: hbelkins on February 21, 2020, 08:30:45 PM
Galax -- still cutouts at VA 89 and VA 97 the last time I was there.

There were two cutouts in Galax, but that was 2014.

Mapmikey

Quote from: formulanone on February 22, 2020, 08:39:49 AM


Quote from: hbelkins on February 21, 2020, 08:30:45 PM
Galax -- still cutouts at VA 89 and VA 97 the last time I was there.

There were two cutouts in Galax, but that was 2014.

May 2018 GMSV shows:
VA 89-97 set still up - https://goo.gl/maps/8M866MEL3mTt3qSM7
VA 89 by the school - https://goo.gl/maps/4DV6wWasosJ1911dA

All others I was aware of were gone...

csw


plain

Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on February 19, 2020, 01:42:52 PM
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 18, 2020, 03:55:00 PM
Richmond only has a couple left

I think the ones on westbound VA 147 at VA 161 are the only ones left. The VA 147 shield fell off and disappeared a long time ago.

Is the trailblazer on VA 147 EB (Cary St) gone now?
Newark born, Richmond bred

AlexandriaVA

Quote from: 1995hoo on February 18, 2020, 06:07:52 PM
Quote from: froggie on February 18, 2020, 04:34:02 PM
There used to be two on northbound Patrick St (US 1) in Old Town Alexandria.  Are they still there?


They were as of earlier this winter. I haven't been through there in a few weeks to confirm they're still there today.

Pretty sure I saw them a few weeks ago, but I can't keep track of the dates anymore.

1995hoo

The Secondary Route 648 "cutout" (more likely an signposting error) in Fairfax County on Bren Mar Drive just off Edsall Road is gone, as are the Interstate shields that were on the same signpost.

That one was notable because froggie and Mapmikey confirmed it was the only secondary route cutout they'd ever seen anywhere in Virginia.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

WillWeaverRVA

Quote from: plain on February 22, 2020, 05:27:03 PM
Quote from: WillWeaverRVA on February 19, 2020, 01:42:52 PM
Quote from: Mapmikey on February 18, 2020, 03:55:00 PM
Richmond only has a couple left

I think the ones on westbound VA 147 at VA 161 are the only ones left. The VA 147 shield fell off and disappeared a long time ago.

Is the trailblazer on VA 147 EB (Cary St) gone now?

There were three EB cutouts I was familiar with - one leaving VA 161, a double-printed one a few blocks east of Meadow St, and a third one on the VCU campus, and all of them are gone.
Will Weaver
WillWeaverRVA Photography | Twitter

"But how will the oxen know where to drown if we renumber the Oregon Trail?" - NE2

cpzilliacus

It is sad that the cutouts are going away - and are not being replaced by  newer cutouts (but then cutouts are not VDOT-spec any longer).

Overall, I always liked the vintage VDOT and VDH signs - the reassurance assemblies every 10 miles or so on primary system highways are part of the pleasure of driving in the Commonwealth, and are a pleasing reminder of days gone by.

The signs used on freeway-class roads in Virginia into the 1970's always had a certain uniqueness about them.  The long arrows on a diagonal pointing to exit ramps were nice, as were the route shields with the relatively thin black outline used on BGS panels for U.S., primary and secondary route numbers.  And who can forget the whitewashed wood timbers on which so many of the smaller signs and assemblies were mounted on. 

Fortunately, Michael Summa has captured some of these gems with his camera.
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

hbelkins

Quote from: cpzilliacus on March 04, 2020, 05:32:58 PM
It is sad that the cutouts are going away - and are not being replaced by  newer cutouts (but then cutouts are not VDOT-spec any longer).

I've seen a number of cutouts with reflective sheeting instead of the old-style lettering. Several of them that are currently up in Norton have what appears to be the "honeycomb" sheeting. I've also seen that sheeting on cutouts (now gone) for US 250 near Monterey, and in a few other places as well. So Virginia was producing and installing cutouts into the 1970s and 1980s when that style of sheeting was in common use.


Government would be tolerable if not for politicians and bureaucrats.

cpzilliacus

Quote from: hbelkins on March 05, 2020, 11:20:24 AM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on March 04, 2020, 05:32:58 PM
It is sad that the cutouts are going away - and are not being replaced by  newer cutouts (but then cutouts are not VDOT-spec any longer).

I've seen a number of cutouts with reflective sheeting instead of the old-style lettering. Several of them that are currently up in Norton have what appears to be the "honeycomb" sheeting. I've also seen that sheeting on cutouts (now gone) for US 250 near Monterey, and in a few other places as well. So Virginia was producing and installing cutouts into the 1970s and 1980s when that style of sheeting was in common use.

I seem to recall seeing at least one cutout on U.S. 250, but I did not examine it closely, and yes, I think there are no cutouts remaining in Highland County.
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

1995hoo

Quote from: froggie on February 18, 2020, 04:34:02 PM
There used to be two on northbound Patrick St (US 1) in Old Town Alexandria.  Are they still there?


On Saturday afternoon we passed through Old Town on Duke Street. When I looked around the corner to the left onto Patrick Street, I did not see the first US-1 cutout that used to be on the left side there, and it's missing on Google Street View as well.  :-(  Don't know about the one on the right side just north of King Street because we didn't go past there.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

cpzilliacus

Quote from: 1995hoo on March 04, 2020, 03:44:49 PM
The Secondary Route 648 "cutout" (more likely an signposting error) in Fairfax County on Bren Mar Drive just off Edsall Road is gone, as are the Interstate shields that were on the same signpost.

That one was notable because froggie and Mapmikey confirmed it was the only secondary route cutout they'd ever seen anywhere in Virginia.

I remember that one well.  I think it was not a cutout as much as it was a shield intended to be installed on a BGS panel (perhaps on I-395?) and it never ended up there.  There are similar U.S. 50 "cutouts" in the commuter lot adjacent to the interchange at U.S. 50/U.S. 301 and MD-424 in Anne Arundel County. Maryland seldom used cutouts for anything, except Interstate shields.
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.



Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.